Homeless veteran time lapse transformation goes viral

The unkempt hair, scraggily beard, faded windbreaker – U.S. Army Veteran Jim Wolf looks like many homeless men begging for change on the streets of San Francisco. Most people who pass by men like him probably avoid eye contact, stare down at their phones or focus intently on the sidewalk twenty feet ahead of them, pretending not to hear “excuse me” or “God bless” as they walk past a pleading cardboard sign.

One organization has sought to change that perception of Wolf, and the homeless in general, while giving Wolf a shot at a fresh start in the process. Michigan charity organization Degage Ministries and producer and marketer Rob Bliss have created a time lapse video of Wolf undergoing a complete makeover. The clip has already generated more than 10 million hits in the five days it’s been up on YouTube.

In the video, viewers are told:

“For decades, Jim has struggled with poverty, homelessness and alcoholism. In September 2013, he volunteered to go through this physical transformation. … Since filming, Jim has taken control of his life. He is now scheduled to have his own housing and is attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for the first time ever.”

Watch as Wolf is transformed from a man who looks like he sleeps on the streets, to one who looks at home in a Fortune 500 round-up.